Metal detector reject systems
Track and remove products that trigger a metal detector, with secure containment and monitoring options.
Food production engineering
Food and beverage reject systems.
Automatic product rejection, secure containment and monitored fault responses configured around the real pack, inspection point, hygiene environment and site quality process.
Hygienic handling • Secure containmentWhat does a food production reject system do?
Direct answer
A food and beverage reject system tracks a failed pack from an inspection or process decision, removes it from accepted production and directs it into secure containment or a controlled reject lane. Monitoring can confirm the reject and stop the line when required conditions are not met.
The design must suit both the product and the production environment. Open or unstable packs behave differently from sealed cartons; wet cleaning changes material and enclosure requirements; and higher-risk inspection points may need independent reject confirmation, locked containment and supervised access.
Equipment features are agreed against the manufacturer’s hazard analysis, site quality system and customer requirements. A reject device alone does not create compliance with BRCGS, retailer or other certification requirements.
Inspection triggers
One reject platform can follow many quality decisions.
We define the electrical signal, tracking reference, product window and fault response with the relevant inspection-equipment supplier and the customer team.
X-ray inspection rejection
Reject contaminated, damaged or incomplete packs after an X-ray inspection decision.
Checkweigher reject systems
Remove underweight and overweight packs while protecting adjacent accepted production at the specified pitch.
Vision and code inspection
Reject missing, unreadable or incorrect date codes, barcodes, labels, caps, closures and visual features.
Leak and seal failures
Remove packs that fail pressure, vacuum, seal or other integrity tests without spreading leaks into accepted production.
Filling and labelling faults
Use machine or PLC signals to reject no-fill, underfill, overfill, missing-label and process-fault products downstream.
Food-line engineering considerations.
Hygienic construction and cleaning
Specify the actual cleaning method, chemicals, temperature and hygiene zone. Stainless-steel frames, accessible geometry, suitable belt materials, protected sensors and enclosure ratings can then be selected for the intended environment rather than assumed from the word “food”.
Product handling
Trays, pouches, jars, bottles, cartons and cases all require different acceleration and containment. The reject method must work across weight, fill level, surface friction and line-speed variation without destabilising adjacent accepted packs.
Secure reject containment
A lockable bin, guarded chute or supervised reject lane can restrict access to failed product. Bin-present and bin-full sensors can prevent normal running when the required containment is unavailable.
Verification and line-stop response
An independent reject confirmation sensor can prove the expected pack entered the reject area. Low-air pressure, reject-not-confirmed, access-open, full-bin and device-position faults can be linked to the site’s agreed alarm and line-stop philosophy.
Routine challenge testing
Acceptance tests should cover the product and speed envelope, consecutive rejects and fitted monitoring inputs. The site quality team should also define routine challenge frequency, test pieces where applicable, record keeping and recovery after a failed challenge.
Common food-line features
Specify only what the risk and environment require.
Cleanable conveyor design
Materials, belt choice, access and geometry selected around product contact, spillage, washdown and the site cleaning method.
Lockable reject containment
Secure bins or supervised lanes can support controlled handling of failed products and authorised removal.
Monitored reject sequence
Product tracking, confirmation, bin-full, low-air and access inputs can create defined warnings and line stops.
Multi-format operation
Adjustable guides, change parts, recipes and format-specific testing support controlled production changes.
FAT, SAT and training
Agree acceptance criteria, challenge tests, operator guidance, maintenance information and project records before delivery.
Inspection and line signals
Define interfaces with the inspection supplier, PLC, safety system and upstream or downstream machines.
Food-line questions
Answers for quality and engineering teams.
Final requirements are confirmed from the product, hazard analysis, site procedure and production environment.
Which food inspection machines can trigger a reject system?+
Common triggers include metal detectors, X-ray inspection systems, checkweighers, machine vision, barcode and date-code inspection, leak testing, filling equipment and labelling machines.
Can the reject bin be locked and monitored?+
Yes. Lockable bins, bin-present sensing, bin-full monitoring and supervised access can be included where required by the site risk assessment and quality process.
Does a reject system make a line BRCGS compliant?+
No single reject device makes a line compliant. Equipment and monitoring must sit within the manufacturer’s wider hazard analysis, quality system, site procedures and applicable customer or certification requirements.
Can rejection be retrofitted to an existing food conveyor?+
Often, yes. We review hygienic construction, cleaning, available reject length, product spacing, containment, guarding and the inspection or PLC output before confirming feasibility.